One week ago, when previewing what may be the first lockout of the West Coast Ports since 2002, we cited the Retail Industry Leaders Association who, realizing that failure to reach an agreement between the dockworker union and their bosses, the Pacific Maritime Association representing port management would lead to devastating consequences for the US retail industry, had several very damning soundbites:

“a work slowdown during contract negotiations over the past seven months has already created logistic nightmares for American exporters, manufacturers and retailers dependent on an efficient supply chain. A complete shutdown would be catastrophic, with hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk if America’s supply chain grinds to a halt.“

“A west coast port shutdown would be an economic disaster.”

“A shutdown would not only impact the hundreds of thousands of jobs working directly in America’s transportation supply chain, but the reality is the entire economy would be impacted as exports sit on docks and imports sit in the harbor waiting for manufacturers to build products and retailers to stock shelves.”

And the punchline: “The slowdown is already making life difficult, but a shutdown could derail the economy completely.“

I find it hard to believe the dock workers would allow this to happen. It is too easy for scabs to move in, and once they are in, they are like fleas in blankets……you can never get rid of all of them.

This must be terrible for millions, and I don’t believe the teamsters will let it happen…………at least I hope not. I have known some, and they are hard working people who deserve a living wage, but also understand how difficult life could be without a job. Most are too pragmatic to allow it to continue much longer………….I sure hope so. It will all be blamed on the unions, and the idiots will buy into the anti-union propaganda. They need to be very careful.
I have always honored the hard working members of the teamsters, and I hope they prove themselves worthy of my respect.